Feeling Renewed

Thank God for some much needed rest! We're still adjusting to the time change. Much like my grandfather usually is, I was wide awake at 4am. Even though I adore sleeping in, I now understand why he is okay with being awake early. I was able to spend some quality time with God and some time soaking in a hot bath. I finished reading a book passed down from my grandmother titled "FEEDING MY LAMBS, The Joy Ranch Story" (copyright 1986). It's about a couple that founded a home for needy children, providing them with "love and care in a wholesome, structured environment." I remember my grandparents hosting children from Joy Ranch and wondering why these children didn't have grandparents of their own. Many of the children at Joy Ranch came from very hard places of abuse, neglect, and desertion. One notable section of the book reads:

A few paragraphs later the book quotes Psalm 27:10, "When my mother and my father forsake me, the Lord will take me up." In case you've forgotten, we are His hands and feet.
Many people have asked us "Why adoption?" especially after they learn we have a biological child of our own. But holding a child of our own only makes us want to care for other children even more. If I had died during childbirth, would I not want my child cared for? If my child had a medical need I could not meet, would I not want someone to meet that need? If I never made it off the airplane, would I not want my child to still grow up in a home with loving parents? These seem like ridiculous questions, but how can they be answered without someone on the other side saying yes to my child? That's where adoptive parents step in. We say yes to the parents that could not meet their child's needs. I believe God worked in our hearts to say yes to adoption so that Elijah's birth parents could be at peace with the decision to give him up for the surgery that he needs. I cannot fathom how difficult their decision was. Itt will always be easier to make the decision to add a child to your family than to give one away. But I know my God takes care of His children.

That wonderful book, written years ago by such s lovely couple, started with the verse Matthew 18:14. "Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that even one of these little ones should perish." Amen to that! That's what this whole journey has been about, caring for the little one.

We made it to China!

After lots of travel and very little sleep, we are finally in China! At the airport we met two representatives from the organization we believe is supporting Elijah's orphanage. They were grateful for the two suitcases of supplies we were able to transport and we will eternally be grateful for their important work here in China. We then met George, our representative from CCAI, and five other families before heading to our hotel. Although it is dinner time, I can only think of sleep... Good night!

On our way!

Tonight we leave for Charlotte! Bright and early at 6am tomorrow we will be on the first of our many flights. Our layover is in D.C. and then on to Beijing. After a little rest and recovery from jet lag (and hopefully seeing the Great Wall), we will fly to the province of Henan. We will finally meet Elijah face to face for the first time!!! I cannot even fathom how emotional this will be. I will probably cry harder than he does. We are taking snacks and toys to help win him over. While in Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan, we will register the adoption, apply for and receive Elijah's passport, and obtain adoption finalization documents. Next we will fly to Guangzhou, where the U.S. Consulate is located. We will prepare Visa paperwork, complete Elijah's Visa physical and photo, and receive his American Visa. Lastly we take a van to Hong Kong at 5am and fly out at 11am. This will be a really long day of travel, especially with a child that is grieving the loss of everything he's ever known and leaving with a couple he just recently met. We will have a 14+ hour flight to Chicago, a 6 hour layover, a 2 hour flight to Charlotte, and then a 2 hour drive home.
We are incredibly grateful that you've joined us on this exhilarating, exhausting, extensive journey! We really appreciate your prayers for safe travels, good health, accurate paperwork, and Elijah's emotional attachment to our little family. We probably won't communicate back to the U.S. much while in China, but we will definitely share stories and photos when we return! Lots of love!

"It's the breath that's breathing new life
Into what we thought was dead
It's the favor that takes orphans
Placing crowns upon their heads
It's the hope for our tomorrows
The rock on which we stand
It's a strong and mighty fortress
Even Hell can't stand against

Some may call it foolish and impossible
But for every heart it rescues, it's a miracle
It's nothing less than scandalous
This love that took our placeJust call it what it is, call it grace"

Call It Grace, Unspoken

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!

Today we received official travel approval and dates!!! As this day has drawn near, this anxious Momma's heart has beat a little faster everyday. I had no idea how much faster it would beat with travel dates set! Full speed ahead! We still haven't received any updates on Elijah so we are elated to run to him as quickly as possible. We have so much to plan and prepare in the next week that it's quite overwhelming. Yet I cannot fathom Elijah spending one extra day without loving parents holding him tight. Please pray that God prepares his heart to meet us and join our family. We leave for China on January 13 and meet Elijah on January 18!

If you're reading this blog post, you are already invested in this blossoming little life. It's not too late to add your family's names to Elijah's keepsake puzzle. Visit www.AdoptTogether.org/Hanks
(There is no minimum donation amount.)

Two loooong months

It has been two months since we were matched with Elijah. Two months since we first saw the adorable face of the child our hearts already loved. We are currently waiting on travel approval, which although it may be one of the shortest timeframes of this whole process, is seemingly taking forever. I've probably checked my email 1000 times already this week. I was so excitedly thinking of travel to meet him that I couldn't fall asleep last night. So much left to do to get ready, yet I would leave at a moments notice to bring him home!

Three rows done, fifteen more to go!

Article 5 Pick Up!

Today our adoption agency representatives in China picked up our Article 5 from the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. For a year now I've seen others excitedly post about this in FB adoption groups. I wasn't quite sure why the elation, as it just seemed like another step in the journey. Then I learned that "Article 5" is the U.S. Central Authority's Approval for Hague Adoption, which is the last step before travel approval! Yay!!! Getting soooooo close...

I just learned from another CCAI adoptive parent that if we don't travel by January 20, the trip will be postponed until after Chinese New Year. So please pray we receive travel approval and travel dates soon!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas family and friends! Happy birthday Jesus! Happy half birthday Elijah!
The last two days have been a flurry of good food and great company. We've enjoyed fellowship with family and watching Ethan play with his new toys. Each little smile and giggle warms our hearts, especially knowing we have another sweetheart on the way. Ethan really enjoyed playing with his cousins, leading us to believe he will love having a brother.
We've been hoping for an update on Elijah. We submitted our five update questions to our agency in early November, but have not heard anything back from his orphanage. I also asked a parent traveling to Elijah's orphanage to snap a picture of him while visiting (if possible). The parent uploaded pictures today of children in Elijah's room, but unfortunately he wasn't one of them. My heart sank as I longed to see his sweet face again and make sure he is okay. Did he move to an older child room? Does he have a friend or favorite nanny in there? Is he living with a foster family? Is he at the hospital?  I don't know. In my heart, I want to believe he is in a safe place, celebrating Christmas with those closest to him. I'm so ready to pick him up right now!
God, thank you for the precious gift of your Son. And thank you for the precious blessing of my sons.

Elijah's Puzzle Page